Major Defeat for Sony Music as Supreme Court Rejects Liability Claims in $1 Billion Copyright Battle

The United States Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in favor of Cox Communications, effectively tossing a $1 billion jury verdict in a long-standing copyright battle with major record labels. ^{The case, led by Sony Music Entertainment, sought to hold the internet service provider (ISP) liable for the illegal music downloads of its customers, arguing that Cox had not done enough to deter or terminate the accounts of repeat infringers.}

Writing for the court, Justice Clarence Thomas clarified that an ISP cannot be held contributorily liable for the actions of its users unless it actively…